Friday, September 01, 2006

USA Oops: What next?

So the only remaining question at the Hoops Worlds is (a) how extensively the US is going to phone it in for the bronze-medal game and (b) if Argentina tanked the semi against Spain specifically to get the chance to beat the US (sorry: beat the US again).

What does USA Hoops need? I'm not even sure that missing players like Kobe or Chauncey Billups are the answer. I've argued since Athens '04 that the USA's best (willing) Olympic player is Michael Redd. But it's obvious that even he won't be enough.

Wow, moving away from racism for a bit, I think we need a pass first point guard on the court at all times.

Jason Kidd can run my team until the day he retires. I'll run out there with Kidd and any athletes we can put him with. Paul can back him up.

Kidd, Wade, LeBron, Carmelo, Brad Miller. That will get it done. Back them up with Paul (distributor), Redd (shooter), Bowen (stopper), Bosh and Brand (big men) and that team will win. Make the last three guys college kids who are just happy to be there.

Of course, we're trying to think of real suggestions. We won't get a team with Kidd, Kobe, KG, Duncan, and Shaq backed up by Arenas, Pierce, Tmac, Brand, and Jermaine, with the last three guys being Lebron, Wade, and Carmelo.

Just a note, but Redd chose not to be on this team because of personal reasons, he was getting married I believe.

Second, not sure if it has any correlation but page 2 got rid of skip bayless as well. Although, I think everyone hates him. My speculation is Page 2 decided to go a different route. Maybe if Dan used more ebonics like Scoop he would still be around.

And to answer the question, it's obvious that the solution is to have Ray Allen and Michael Redd on the floor at the same time with Chris Paul. If the USA can spread the floor, and have Paul penetrate and kick, then nobody beats us. If we have DWade and Lebron James hoisting 20' shots all game, we're going to lose to the swarthy people from Greece. Pretty simple.

greece is a quality team, just because you don't see them in the nba doesn't mean they're not, they've all played together a long time and have done very well within europe and internationally. shanoff's whiny hysterics about this make it seem like some kind of horrid tragedy, which it isn't. big. fat. hairy. effing. deal.

If you didn't see this coming ... get your yearly physical done and have them start with a head exam ...

1 - I agree that this team needs to blend ... a month together won't cut it ... Beijing will be the real test if this team is kept together ... although changes are necessary

2 - Coaching is a factor ... Coach K is a motivator ... my pick to coach this team ... Phil Jackson he's a proven winner and a motivator ... the triangle offense for Team USA to breakdown all those zone defenses they see would be a big upgrade

3 - Players ... Team needs more straight up defenders ... not ACC alumni (ex: Battier, Jamison, Paul) ... and 1 or 2 quality Centers ... other teams run layup drills every game it seems ... Who are the shot blockers on this team ?

The solution is 3 fold: Coaching: Coach K is a lot like Mack Brown from UT. Gets a lot of talent every year, but game day, pressure decision making, is probably not his forte. We need a coach who will install a philosophy that will win in the international game and a coach who can make those quick adjustments on the fly. Players: This wasn't even close to the best team we could have put together if everyone could have played. We especially need a couple of big men in the middle to block shots and intimidate opposing teams. We also need some shooters, not bricklayers. There are plenty of players in the NBA who can make open shots, and some of them need to be on Team USA. Rules: I don't blame the refs, but I think the international rules make for a game that flows better than the slash and drive style that constitues offense in the NBA. Maybe the NBA needs to change their rules to get a bit closer to the international game. The international rules could use some tweaking also, I mean I could probably shot 33% from THAT 3 point line (provided I was having a good day and no one was guarding me). I don't remember the NBA making a significant rule change in my lifetime, maybe its time to adjust things a bit.

I don't think the personell was the problem. The problem is the format of the tournament. The group play is good because you can lose one and still be in good shape, but when it gets to the knockout stages, one bad shooting night and you are done. Basketball is a game of coaching and adjustments. If each knockout round was a 3 game series or if the did a round-robin with the final four teams, the US surely would have been able to correct mistakes and take gold.

I really don't see why Argentina would intentionally tank against Spain, giving up a shot at the gold just so they could beat the U.S. again. It serves no purpose whatsoever, as they've already proven they could beat the U.S.

Why they would pass up a gold (or even silver if they would've lost to Greece) just to play a U.S. team they know they could beat is hard to fathom.

I don't think you can compare Coach K to Mack Brown, the man has won 3 titles. As Dan has pointed out many times with all the talent he has had he should have more than 3. I think before K is done at Duke he will probably win at least 2 more, I don't think Mack Brown is going to win anymore titles at Texas because he will not get a transcendent athlete like Vince Young again and he overcoaches in key situations he was just lucky that last year he was facing Pete Carrol who has not had to coach in 3 years because of the sick talent at USC.

Can't find the MQ where we talked about this...but, I saw this coming. I said they would run through the lesser teams only to stumble and settle for the Bronze.

They will top Argentina to surprise most, and then talk about how great it is to beat them this time...instead of focusing on the fact they should have run away with it...new coach and some new team players are definitely needed.

I don't knnow that the whole 3-year commitment is all it's cracked up to be. If the US doesn't end up with the gold in Beijing, none of the NBA players are going to take the time to play in the summer when they can be sitting on their yachts with a bunch of drunk broads.

I think Team USA needs a more suitable coach...Coach K is fine for college, but NBA players need an NBA coach, like up and coming Avery Johnson or a vet like Gregg Popovich. (i'm not a spurs fan, I just think they are both quality choices)

oh, and sonsofkc followers...can you stop spamming the blog, it is getting old. thanks.

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DanShanoff.com is a sports-blog spin-off of my long-time ESPN.com column, "The Daily Quickie." Anchored by an early-morning post of must-know topics, the blog is updated frequently throughout the day with new posts and user comments.